Commission approves 8-foot wall in Germantown with constructability cautions

The Metro Historic Zoning Commission approved a proposal for an 8-foot masonry wall on the north property line of a contributing 1850s brick house in Germantown, concluding the taller wall would provide visual and audio buffering where the residence abuts a commercial outdoor seating area.

Staff noted that although the design guidelines generally limit fences and walls to 6 feet, the proposed 8-foot wall on the north line is appropriate because it directly adjoins commercial outdoor seating and is not proposed adjacent to an alley. Staff pointed to a 2023 precedent where the commission approved an 8-foot brick wall under similar circumstances.

Martin Wick, the project architect, told commissioners construction activity had already begun and that the team had been coordinating with staff. Taylor Monen, the adjacent property and business owner, raised concerns about recently poured footings, soil erosion and access for maintenance (including gutter cleaning), saying she worried about the structural integrity of her building and asking for more time to resolve those concerns.

Commission discussion emphasized that historic appropriateness is the commission’s purview while constructability and code enforcement fall to building codes and permit enforcement; commissioners nevertheless asked the applicant to keep footings and construction on the applicant’s property and included the condition that the Metro Historic Commission approve the brick sample (MHDC sign-off). A motion to approve as submitted passed.

Next step: the applicant must provide the approved brick sample to MHDC and resolve any building-code/constructability questions with the contractor and codes enforcement as necessary.